5 best analogues of L-thyroxine
L-thyroxine is a life-saving drug for people with thyroid hormone deficiency. Its sudden disappearance from pharmacies can become a serious problem, as it happened recently in the wake of rush demand. Our experts told if L-thyroxine has analogues and how to use them

The active component of L-thyroxine is levothyroxine sodium, a synthetic analogue of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. It is used as hormone replacement therapy in people with hypothyroidism and euthyroid goiter, and after complete or partial removal of the thyroid gland.

Russian pharmacies sell L-thyroxine of foreign and domestic manufacturers. In terms of sales, the drug of the German company Berlin-Chemie is in the lead, which is available in tablets with a dosage of 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mcg. It is the one most often prescribed by doctors.

List of top 5 inexpensive and effective analogues of L-thyroxine according to KP

Together with experts, we have selected several analogues of L-Thyroxine, which can become a temporary or permanent alternative to the usual drug. The list of analogues includes monopreparations with the same active ingredient and combined drugs, which, in addition to levothyroxine, contain another active ingredient.

Before using any analogues, you should consult your doctor. First of all, this applies to combined agents that are not considered an equivalent replacement for L-Thyroxine.

1. Euthyrox

Euthyrox is one of the best analogues of L-Thyroxine. It contains the similar active ingredient levothyroxine sodium and is available in tablets with the same dosage: 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mcg1. In addition, the manufacturer offers a drug with a different content of the active ingredient: 25, 88, 112 and 137 mcg1. Intermediate options are very convenient for doctors and patients, since they allow you to more accurately select the dose of the active substance.

Unlike L-Thyroxine, Euthyrox contains lactose. This should be taken into account for people with lactose intolerance – they may absorb the drug worse. As for the regimen, Euthyrox should be taken 30 minutes before meals and 3-4 hours before taking other medicines.1.

Like L-thyroxine, Euthyrox is contraindicated in people with individual intolerance to the components of the drug, untreated thyrotoxicosis, acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis, adrenal insufficiency1. With caution, you need to use the drug for coronary heart disease, hypertension, arrhythmia and diabetes.

monopreparation with the same active substance as L-thyroxine; many dosage options.
contains lactose.

2. Bagothyrox

Another analogue of L-Thyroxine from an Argentinean manufacturer. Bagothyrox is available in tablets containing 50, 100, and 150 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium.2. As part of the tablets, like Euthyrox, there is milk sugar lactose2. There are also dyes that help to distinguish tablets with different dosages from each other. As for indications and contraindications, they are identical to L-Thyroxine and Euthyrox.

a complete analogue of L-thyroxine in terms of the active substance.
only 3 dosage options; contains lactose; Rarely found in pharmacies.

3. L-Thyroxine Reneval

The domestic analogue of L-Thyroxine is used according to standard indications, including euthyroid goiter, hypothyroidism, hormone replacement therapy after thyroid surgery. Contraindications are the same as for the original drug.

 L-Thyroxine Reneval is available in 25, 50 and 100 mg tablets to be taken 30-40 minutes before meals.3. Each tablet has a mark for convenient and accurate division. The composition of the drug contains milk sugar lactose.

a complete analogue of L-thyroxine in terms of the active substance.
only 3 dosage options; contains lactose; rarely on sale.

4. Novotiral

The composition of this combined preparation includes two synthetic thyroid hormones – levothyroxine sodium in the amount of 75 or 100 mcg and liothyronine sodium in the amount of 15 or 20 mcg4. Novotiral is prescribed for the treatment of hypothyroidism, euthyroid goiter, as well as to compensate for hormone deficiency after thyroid surgery.4.

Contraindications: individual intolerance, myocardial infarction and myocarditis, severe cardiac and adrenal insufficiency4.

drug from a well-known manufacturer; time-tested efficiency.
high price in the segment; in addition to levothyroxine, it contains another active ingredient, therefore it cannot be considered a complete analogue of L-thyroxine.

5. Eutyral

Euthyral contains two active ingredients – levothyroxine sodium (100 mcg) and liothyronine sodium (20 mcg). In fact, this is a complete analogue of Novotiral. Eutiral is used as hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroidism of various origins.

The drug can not be used for thyrotoxicosis, severe disorders in the work of the adrenal glands and the cardiovascular system, acute myocarditis and myocardial infarction.

efficiency.
is not a complete analogue of L-thyroxine; high price in the segment; not sold in all pharmacies.

How to choose an analogue of L-thyroxine

Currently, most patients with hypothyroidism are taking L-thyroxine or other drugs with levothyroxine (Eutirox, Bagothyrox)5. They contain the same active ingredient, often in the same dosage. Therefore, when choosing an analogue of L-Thyroxin, it is better to give preference to monopreparations with the closest possible mechanism of action.5.

If the German L-thyroxine is not on sale, you can look for Russian analogues with the same name. In addition to the L-Thyroxine Reneval mentioned in the rating, there are drugs from the companies Ozone, Akrikhin, Valenta in the pharmacy network.

Combined drugs (Eutyral and Novotiral) cannot serve as an equivalent replacement for L-Thyroxine, since they also contain other components. They can be taken only with the permission of the attending physician and often only for a limited period of time. When switching to a combination drug, you need to carefully monitor your well-being (measure blood pressure, heart rate), as well as regularly take blood tests to control the level of thyroid hormones (every 2 months or more often). This will allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and, if necessary, adjust the dosage.

Reviews of doctors about analogues of L-Thyroxine

– The formula of L-thyroxine is very simple for synthesis and dosing – says PhD, endocrinologist Elena Kulikova. – Tablets of various manufacturers are produced in a similar dosage. Therefore, we can say that all analogues have the same activity.

“However, in the composition of each tablet, in addition to the active component, there are also excipients that differ from manufacturer to manufacturer,” notes endocrinologist-gynecologist Maria Vavilova. – It affects the absorption of L-thyroxine analogues. Some patients may experience, for example, an allergic reaction when switching to a new drug. In this case, you need to select another option.

Popular questions and answers

Our experts answer popular questions: PhD, endocrinologist Elena Kulikova and endocrinologist-gynecologist Maria Vavilova.

When can L-thyroxine analogs be used?

– They are used for the same indications as L-thyroxine. First of all, with hypothyroidism – a deficiency of thyroid hormones. The main thing is not to confuse an analogue of a drug with a dietary supplement based on L-tyrosine. Supplements cannot be used for hormone replacement therapy, nor can they be used after thyroid surgery.

What will happen if you stop taking L-thyroxine and switch to an analogue?

– It depends on which analogue to take. If you switch to the Russian L-Thyroxine, for example, to Euthyrox and Bagothyrox in the same dosage, then 95% of patients will not notice any changes. In any case, it is better to find a replacement than to completely stop taking the drug.

It is very important not to panic if the usual medicine is not in the pharmacy, because stress negatively affects the state of the thyroid gland. You just need to switch to analogues and follow the prescribed dosage, and also support the functioning of the thyroid gland with the help of proper nutrition, for example, seafood, eggs, red meat.

Sources of:

  1. State Register of Prices for Vital and Essential Drugs (VED) http://farmcom.info/site/reestr?TnnName=%DD%F3%F2%E8%F0%EE%EA%F1
  2. Vidal. Reference book of medicines. Bagothyrox https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/bagothyrox__6665
  3. Vidal. Reference book of medicines. L-thyroxine Reneval https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/l-thyroxin__23557
  4. Vidal. Reference book of medicines. Novotiral. https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/novothyral__598
  5. The problem of interchangeability of drugs L-thyroxine. “Effective pharmacotherapy. Endocrinology”. Demidova M. A. https://umedp.ru/articles/problema_vzaimozamenyaemosti_preparatov_ltiroksina.html

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